By George!...George III's holiday snaps Pt 9

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You're on your hols in Weymouth, you've pulled your bathers on, donned that water resistant wig, convinced yourself that the water's lovely; when this happens.....who'd be King George III...

Georgian Weymouth

By George! George III's holiday snaps Pt.8

When George III donned the royal bathing trunks for his daily swim at Weymouth he was faced with all the complexities of a trip to the moon. Seawater had been promoted for its health benefits since the 1730s and was a serious business. It included early morning bathes, drinking half a pint of seawater and a massage with seaweed. Afterwards a half hour in bed was recommended followed by outdoor exercise.

'I was terribly frightened, & really thought I should never have recovered from the Plunge-I had not Breath enough to speak for a minute or two, the shock was beyond expression great-but after I got back to the machine, I presently felt myself in a Glow that was delightful-it is the finest feeling in the World,-& will induce me to Bathe as often as will be safe ' Fanny Burney 



To serve the modesty of the bathers bathing machines made their appearance; changing huts on wheels dragged out into the briny by horse. In George III's time they were equipped with retractable umbrella-like contraption, known as the 'tilt' which reached to the water meaning that the swimmer was basically immersed in a claustrophobic tent.
It didn't end there though, each swimmer was outfitted in a voluminous calico nightshirt and was accompanied be one or two burly attendants often local fishermen or their wives. The male attendants known as  'bathers' and the females, 'dippers'.

One of these dippers, Martha Gunn of  Brighton spent most of her 88 years up to her chin in the briny and became something of a

minor celebrity with a whole range of ephemera featuring her appearing,  from satirical prints to toby jugs and the wonderful portrait above.




She became close to George, Prince of Wales and enjoyed special privileges including free access to the kitchens of the Royal Pavilion.

By George! George III's holiday snaps Pt.7

When the King descended on Weymouth so did the Quality. Hard to believe but Weymouth became the  kingdom's style and entertainment capital. The Assembly rooms and theatre served up the latest entertainment.

Rules for the Weymouth Assembly Rooms

 Not to be forgotten, though, was real the reason for being here at Weymouth the first place,  getting one's feet wet...

Always someone with their hand out...

By George! George III's holiday snaps pt.7

Holidaytime isn't all fun and frolics- never more so than when second homer George III visited his Weymouth pad.

There were an awful lot of people who would have liked to get their evil mitts on that plump royal personage. Those Frenchies, for a start, were everywhere. As a result the town, the bay and surrounding hills bristled with military might...

William Pitt the wily PM

Then there was the tedious business of running the country-First thing every a.m there would be the PM...

... and discipline was not just confined to refusing the second ice-cream.

BY GEORGE!! George III';s holiday snaps Pt 3

A further look at George III's happy hols

The arrival of the bright young things:

Forget not...without Horatio we'd be eating snails and garlic

They'll never catch on...:

                                     

English rain respecteth no man:

BY GEORGE!! George III's holiday snaps Pt 2

Coadestone statue of George 11  erected by grateful Weymothians

Continuing my vicious expose of George II's seaside antics - no candyfloss here...

Soldiers will be soldiers and traders will be traders:


...and kings will be kings:


...and those damned Frenchies will be damned Frenchies:

Meanwhile George doesn't waste time building castles...he's got loads already:

MORE TOMORROW!

BY GEORGE!! George III's holiday snaps Pt.1

We've all heard of George III's summer hols in Weymouth, though anything original and juicy concerning the event seems thin on the ground. 
...Until now! 

Throwing morals to the wind and employing an open cheque book I've assembled a whole pile of tasty royal tit bits which I shall dole out here and there throughout the year.
Firstly, just imagine our present Queen taking leave of her senses and deciding to holiday at Weymouth instead of Sandringham. 
The military would occupy the high ground, the navy would sweep the bay, government flunkeys would set up shop next to the donkeys and every sponger and socialite would hot foot it down to the Esplanade. 
As it is now so it was then,.. It wasn't just a case of packing bucket spade and crown it was a VERY BIG DEAL...newspaper reports, to be expected, appeared regularly, though usually confined to one or two lines rather than as multiple-page exposes. 

First came the preparations:

Then the ten hour's stuck in traffic: 

Next that trip to the beach:

Closely followed by a dollop of good old Dorsetshire opportunism:

MORE TOMORROW!